Caladium plant named ‘GPR 013-2243’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘GPR 013-2243’, characterized by its intermediate height; somewhat mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit; rapid growth rate; thick and rigid lance-type leaves that are white to light greyed green in color variably flushed and tinged with purplish pink to red and with dark green-colored margins and venation; petioles that are black or black with tannish pink stripes in color; and excellent garden performance with tolerance to full sunlight, wind and rain.

Botanical designation: Caladium X hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘GPR 013-2243’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladiumplant, botanically known as Caladium X hortulanum, commercially referredto as a lance leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name‘GPR 013-2243’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create newCaladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container andgarden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in April, 2012 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium X hortulanum‘White Wonder’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,044, as the female,or seed, parent with Caladium X hortulanum ‘Green Pearl’, not patented,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment inAvon Park, Fla. in September, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by “chipping” the tubers(cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing anaxillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nurseryenvironment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2014 has shown that theunique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘GPR 013-2243’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘GPR 013-2243’ as a new and distinct Caladiumplant:

-   -   1. Intermediate in height and somewhat mounding plant habit;        dense and bushy appearance.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   3. Thick and rigid lance-type leaves that are white to light        greyed green in color variably flushed and tinged with purplish        pink to red and with dark green-colored margins and venation.    -   4. Petioles that are black or black with tannish pink stripes in        color.    -   5. Excellent garden performance with tolerance to full sunlight,        wind and rain.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘White Wonder’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are thicker than leaves        of plants of ‘White Wonder’.    -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘White Wonder’ differ in leaf        color as leaves of the new Caladium are white to light greyed        green in color variably flushed and tinged with purplish pink to        red with dark green-colored margins and venation whereas leaves        of ‘White Wonder’ are white to grey-green in color with light        pink to white-colored venation and dark green-colored borders.    -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘White Wonder’ differ in leaf        petiole color as leaf petioles of the new Caladium are black or        black with tannish pink stripes in color whereas leaf petioles        of ‘White Wonder’ are tannish green with black stripes in color.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Green Pearl’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium grow faster than plants of ‘Green        Pearl’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are thicker than leaves        of plants of ‘Green Pearl’.    -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Green Pearl’ differ in leaf        color as leaves of the new Caladium are white to light greyed        green in color variably flushed and tinged with purplish pink to        red with dark green-colored margins and venation whereas leaves        of ‘Green Pearl’ are predominately white or greenish white in        color with green to dark green-colored venation and        green-colored margins.    -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Green Pearl’ differ in leaf        petiole color as leaf petioles of the new Caladium are black or        black with tannish pink stripes in color whereas leaf petioles        of ‘Green Pearl’ are green to tannish green in color.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium Xhortulanum ‘Florida Sweetheart’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,526.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are taller than plants of ‘Florida        Sweetheart’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are thicker than leaves        of plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’.    -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ differ in        leaf color as leaves of the new Caladium are white to light        greyed green in color variably flushed and tinged with purplish        pink to red with dark green-colored margins and venation whereas        leaves of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ have dark pink-colored venation,        rose pink-colored interveinal areas with greenish white-colored        margins.    -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ differ in        leaf petiole color as leaf petioles of the new Caladium are        black or black with tannish pink stripes in color whereas leaf        petioles of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ are tannish pink with dark        stripes in color.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of Caladium Xhortulanum ‘Xplosion’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,570. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Xplosion’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Xplosion’ differ in leaf        color as leaves of the new Caladium are white to light greyed        green in color variably flushed and tinged with purplish pink to        red with dark green-colored margins and venation whereas leaves        of ‘Xplosion’ are dark green tinged with greyed purple in color        with red purple to dark red-colored venation and interveinal        areas that are white in color with light red-colored spots.    -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Xplosion’ differ in leaf        petiole color as leaf petioles of the new Caladium are black or        black with tannish pink stripes in color whereas leaf petioles        of ‘Xplosion’ are tannish pink to tannish green with darker        brown-colored stippling and streaks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical plant of ‘GPR 013-2243’ in a container and grown in a shadehouse (tuber de-eyed).

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a comparison view oftypical plants of ‘GPR 013-2243’ grown in containers, the plant on theleft has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has hadits tuber de-eyed prior to planting;

the photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3) is side perspective view ofthe male parent, ‘Green Pearl’ (left), ‘GPR 013-2243’ (center) and thefemale parent, ‘White Wonder’ (right).

The photograph on the fourth sheet (FIG. 4) is a comparison view oftypical potted plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ (left), ‘GPR 013-2243’(center) and ‘Xplosion’ (right).

The photograph on the fifth sheet (FIG. 5) is a close-up view of typicalfreshly-harvested tubers with roots and leaf petioles of ‘GPR 013-2243’.

The photograph on the sixth sheet (FIG. 6) is a side perspective view oftypical plants of ‘GPR 013-2243’ grown in an open production field.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in apolypropylene-covered shade house (30% light reduction) in Avon Park,Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions inan outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown undercultural practices typical of commercial shade house and outdoor nurseryproduction. During the production of the shade house-grown plants, daytemperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperaturesranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 8,000foot-candles. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants,day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperaturesranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000to 12,000 foot-candles. Plants grown in the shade house were eight weeksold and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were six months old when thephotographs and the detailed description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium X hortulanum ‘GPR 013-2243’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘White            Wonder’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,044.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘Green            Pearl’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at            temperatures about 32° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown            plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments            ovate to elliptic in shape. Height: About 3 cm to 3.9 cm.            Diameter: About 7.8 cm to 9.8 cm. Segment height: About 2 cm            to 2.5 cm. Segment diameter: About 1.6 cm to 1.7 cm.            Axillary bud shape: Roughly triangular. Axillary bud size:            About 6 mm by 11 mm. Texture: Thick, starchy; somewhat            brittle. Color: Periderm, fleshly-harvested: Close to 199B.            Periderm, dried: Close to 200A to 200B. Epidermis:            Initially, close to 159B becoming closer to 155B with            development. Cortical tissue: Close to 10C and 10D. Axillary            buds: Close to 49C. Root description: Thick, fleshy            contractile roots with few lateral branches; color, close to            NN155D. Rooting habit: Dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant            in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape            plant in shaded areas.        -   Plant and growth habit.—Intermediate in height, upright and            somewhat mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance;            vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; potted plants            finish in saleable form in about four to six weeks after            planting tubers; leaf petioles and leaves arise from one or            more growing points on tubers; leaf petioles initially            upright and leaning outwardly with development.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane, shade            house-grown potted plants, tubers de-eyed.—About 39 cm to            41.5 cm.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane, shade            house-grown potted plants, tubers not de-eyed.—About 38 cm            to 43 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread, shade house-grown potted plants,            tubers de-eyed.—About 47 cm to 53 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread, shade house-grown potted plants,            tubers not de-eyed.—About 43 cm to 52 cm.        -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,            tubers de-eyed.—About four to seven develop per #1 tuber.        -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,            tubers not de-eyed.—About three to four develop per #1            tuber.        -   Cataphylls, shade house-grown potted plants.—Length: About 4            cm to 7.6 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm to 1.9 cm. Shape: Linear            to narrowly elliptic. Apex: Acute, emarginate. Base:            Sheathing the stem. Color: Outer surface: Close to N155B to            N155C with stippling, streaks and marbling, close to N200A            tinged with close to 202A; color becoming closer to 200A            with development. Inner surface: Close to N155B; colors and            patterns on outer surface visible on inner surface.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; lance-type.        -   Length, shade house-grown potted plants.—About 16 cm to 26            cm.        -   Width, shade house-grown potted plants.—About 10.5 cm to            16.5 cm; when flattened, about 18 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.        -   Base.—Sagittate-peltate, cordate; basal leaf lobes may be            imbricate.        -   Margin.—Entire; wavy with broad undulations.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            relatively thick; slightly rugose between veins; slightly            carinate; dull sheen.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; at the            center and surrounding veins, glaucous; dull sheen.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate and palmate.        -   Color, shade house-grown potted plants.—Fully developed            leaves, upper surface: Background color: Close to NN155C,            NN155B, 190C variably flushed and tinged with close to 51C,            58D, 181B, 181C and 182D. Margins: Close to N189A at the            leaf edge, close to 183A. Basal notch: Close to 187A.            Midvein and primary venation: Close to N189A and NN137A            variably flushed with close to N186C, 202A, 53A and 46A.            Secondary venation: Close to N189A and 139A. Fully developed            leaves, lower surface: Background color: Close to 157D,            1470, 137C and 145D faintly and variably flushed with close            to 200C, 178A, 187A and 181D. Margins: Close to 191A and            189A at the leaf edge, close to 187A and 187B. Leaf            attachment point: Close to 187A and 187B. Midvein: Close to            195B, 195C, 199D and 148B; areas surrounding midvein, close            to 137C variably flushed, streaked and marked with close to            200A and 183A. Primary venation: Close to 145B, 145C and            148B; areas surrounding primary venation, close to 137C            variably flushed and marked with close to 200A and 183A.            Secondary venation: Close to 189A, 147C, 157A, 157B and            145D.        -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight and leaning            outwardly with development; occasionally, arched and curved            outwardly; flexible. Length, shade house-grown potted            plants: About 16 cm to 36 cm. Diameter, distally, shade            house-grown potted plants: About 4.8 mm to 7 mm. Diameter,            proximally, shade house-grown potted plants: About 7 mm to            9 mm. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glaucous. Color,            shade house-grown potted plants: When developing and fully            developed: Close to 202A tinged with close to N200A or close            to N200A tinged with 202A and streaked and striped with            close to N170D; just below the leaf junction, close to N200A            tinged with close to 202A and striped with close to N155B            tinged with close to 65D. Wing length, shade house-grown            potted plants: About 6.2 cm to 8.5 cm. Wing diameter, shade            house-grown potted plants: About 8 mm to 11 mm. Texture and            luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; dull to            slightly glossy. Wing color, shade house-grown potted            plants: Outer surface: Close to N155B and N155C with            stippling, streaks and marbling of close to N200A tinged            with close to 202A. Inner surface: Close to N155B; colors            and patterns on the outer surface are visible on the inner            surface.-   Inflorescence description: To date, inflorescence development has    not been observed on plants of the new Caladium.-   Pathogen & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been    observed to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot and above    average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot. Plants of the new    Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and    other pathogens common to Caladium plants.-   Garden performance & temperature tolerance: Plants of the new    Caladium have been observed to have excellent garden performance    with tolerance to full sunlight, wind and rain and to tolerate    temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about 40° C. and are    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler zones, tubers    can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and stored in a cool dry    environment to overwinter for re-planting the following spring.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘GPR 013-2243’as illustrated and described.